Post by davidhr on Feb 3, 2015 9:55:13 GMT -5
The big news this past week was Lara’s appearance in Brooklyn, N.Y. at the latest Igor Krutoi 60th birthday gala presentation. Personalizing this Update (even more than usual), we’ll start with my review of the show:
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Review of Lara Fabian at the Barkleys Center
The show honoring Igor Krutoi’s 60th birthday (a date that actually occurred last August) was scheduled to start at 7 PM and last until 10:30, but it didn’t actually begin until 7:30. It still managed to end almost on time, although whether by design or necessity, there was no intermission. The reason for the late start may well have been the excessive security, which forced people to go through screening devices like at airports, both metal detecting machines and searches of bags. [At least people didn’t have to take off their shoes!]. An announcement indicated that no ‘professional audio or video recording devices’ were allowed, but no attempt was made to limit cell phones.
The Barclays Center was built for basketball, and so many of the seats face the center of the court, rather than the stage, hence it’s not ideal for concerts although there are good sight lines. The arena is quite big, with a seating capacity of up to 19,000. Lara herself indicated that there were 16,000 fans; while most seats were filled, some of the upper reaches seemed to have some available. Regardless of the actual number, a large crowd was present. Even with the size of the hall, with all those seats, legroom was not extensive – pretty much like economy class on an airline.
On the stage was an orchestra of about 40-50 people, with strings, horns, etc. In addition, there was a ‘rock-like’ ensemble featuring keyboard players, a drummer and guitarist. Behind them was a big screen used for creative visual accompaniment to the different musical pieces, similar to what was seen at the Krutoi gala in Moscow. [The visuals weren’t at the level of the Superbowl show, but they were quite entertaining and imaginative; yet if the ones shown behind Lara’s songs were indicative, they had little to do with the lyrics of the songs themselves]. Krutoi was situated behind the piano on stage left from the audience perspective, as usual. To the right and left above the stage were two big screens to provide enhanced views of the performers, with cameras strategically placed to depict the singers and musicians from varying angles. In addition, there were lights on or near the stage that often kept rotating and flashing onto the audience – they were meant to enliven the performance, but the bright lights were at eye level and so often somewhat annoying.
As expected the audience was almost exclusively Russian; I don’t know the exact percentage, but there were few people who were not speaking Russian, or heavily accented English. Appropriate, since all the performers except Lara sang almost exclusively in Russian, all the talking and announcements and signs were in Russian; the show could easily have been taking place in Russia. The audience was also almost all middle aged and older, apparently indicative of Krutoi’s fans, and those of the other performers (who also fit that age bracket). One would have to say Lara’s fans too are often of the same profile. As judged by the response to each of the entertainers’ introductions, most of the fans were not there for Lara (or at least not exclusively), and one would venture to say, at least some of them were not familiar with her.
The sound in the room was sensational – loud but not too loud (unlike Madison Square Garden, where ear plugs, or at least cotton, is sometimes ‘de rigor’). All the performers benefited from it, but from this perspective, Lara’s pure tones were the biggest beneficiary. While some fans of Lara prefer the intimate approach, one would have to say that hearing Lara’s beautiful voice amplified at high volume filling an expansive arena, with an orchestral background, is an unparalleled experience. Having been to a number of Lara’s concerts, in halls of various sizes, this was at least the equal of anything I’ve heard from her previously. One can get some indication of it from the videos, but the effect was even more transcendent in person.
The show started with Krutoi singing a song by himself, and he also sang about 4 more songs later on, after most of the other performers had been on stage (but before Lara). While he can carry a tune, vocalizing is not his true calling. The other performers following Krutoi included (not in order) Kristina Orbakaite, Irina Allegrova, Valeriy Leontiev, Alsou, Nikolai Baskov, Valeriya and Laima Vaikule - all of whom were enjoyable to listen to, but some of whom one might characterize more as entertainers than singers per se, IMHO. In that sense, this was a ‘show’, rather than purely a concert - hence the visuals on the screen behind them, and the enthusiastic choreography/dancers that occasionally served as accompaniment or even the main focus. The audience seemed to expect it and enjoy it as such; their identification with the acts on stage seemed primarily associated with the various personalities, and the fans’ history with them. This is not to say that there were no other good singers – some were very good, - but (again IMHO), it was not a prerequisite (and, one must say, the same could be said for ‘Les Enfoires’ shows, so this is not a commentary on Russians, but more on what makes an entertainer popular).
Not being familiar with Krutoi’s music outside of his association with Lara, I was surprised that most of the songs, presumably all written or co-written by him, were highly rhythmic. There were only a few ballads – all the others featured the orchestra being overridden by the keyboards, drums and rhythmic guitar. Perhaps the conceit was that one needed ‘up-tempo’ music to appeal to such a large audience, to ‘keep the blood flowing’ and get the audience involved. In that sense, the ‘Mademoiselle Zhivago’ album is not indicative of most of what was performed. Previously I would have described Krutoi’s compositions as being ‘romantic’, but this selection, which may not fully represent his repertoire, was definitely not that.
Into this mix at the two hour mark came Lara, the special guest, in a somewhat elaborate dark gown designed by Igor Gulyaev (e.g.,
That was what the audience experienced at the Barclays Center. Many of these elements, however, will not be present for the concerts during her North American tour. We can reasonably expect her to be in good voice, so whatever she sings will be wonderfully appreciated, and those shows will have three times the number of titles offered here. Yet as this night amply illustrated, Lara is best served in a ‘maximalist’ setting with songs that illustrate her vocal capabilities. Her ‘unplugged’, best-of shows, including songs with subtle melodies have their own personal allure; however, seeing Lara that way (as Loreena McKennitt once said about her on-stage musicians), is like watching a Ferrari idling. For at least one night, the U.S. (albeit perhaps only the Russian subculture) got to see her in her true splendor.
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Lara herself happily recognized the magnitude of the event (and her contribution to it), with the following (translated) comment on her FB page:
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Hi to all!
I wake up this morning happy, after this wonderful birthday celebrated at the Barclays Center in New York!!! It is minus 16 [°C] and there is a magical light!!!
Igor was 60 years old, and we have sung in his honor!!! 16000 people full of joy!!! It was magic...
I come back to you in a few days with the start of San Remo!
In the meantime here are some pictures...
Lov lara
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The pictures she referred to are at:
www.facebook.com/larafabianofficial/photos/pcb.848289721879193/848289581879207/?type=1&theater
There are also a set of photos compiled by Lara Fabian Mexico, at:
www.facebook.com/LaraFabianfromMexico/photos/a.794768593910536.1073741894.556364357750962/794768670577195/?type=1&theater
There are various videos on youtube. For those who are interested, I’ve collected and edited them (really only ‘Demaine n’existe pas’ required some work), to provide Lara’s full concert set in a ‘zip’ file that can be downloaded from:
app.box.com/s/u0adirj8lq8hi6ezmeoqgx8eekzj28rt
Similarly, mp3s of the songs, in their own zip file, can be found at:
app.box.com/s/ybmulroeft20htki4rcx2fuaujvuwld1
Thanks especially to Alexandra Aronova and Mercia Silva for their videos.
And the Barclays Center itself provided a video of a portion of the ending song with all the performers, at:
www.facebook.com/video.php?v=956313787744130&fref=nf
(it’s not clear that Lara knew the words…
).
Those fans of Lara’s who attended or who saw the videos and commented on the various fan sites were unanimous in their assessment of this as an amazing performance (one can read some comments of this nature on the responses below the Barclays Center video). Even the Barclays Center was impressed (https://vine.co/v/Otjndjp7ArT). Nicolaus Boucaud, on the MZ FB site, who has been critical of Lara’s singing on her recent tour, wrote, “For one night, Lara Fabian again became Lara Fabian. It is the first time in a long time that she has sung like that.”
It may well rank as one of Lara’s highlights of the year…
Lara noted above that she will next be seen in San Remo. She is really living the international life – one week surrounded by Russians, two weeks later by Italians. And so we now turn our attention to the upcoming ‘Italian’ fairy tale. The TV Journal Sorrisi & Canzoni N° 5 d for the week of 1/31 through 2/6, presented the various candidates in the professional competition. The cover of the publication with all the candidates can be seen (thanks to LaraFabian web) at:
www.facebook.com/tvsorrisi/photos/a.599479823431175.1073741825.310065742372586/838498686195953/?type=1&theater
while the individual blurbs are at:
www.facebook.com/246805652001644/photos/a.247913198557556.83420.246805652001644/1017070781641790/?type=1&theater
Lara’s is ninth (a lucky number for her) from the right on top. It reads (approximately): “Remember that an almost theatrical style of musical led the popular Belgian to San Remo. Full of choirs and vocal virtuosity. ‘Voce’ is a tribute to the music that never ceases to make sense at this time.“ In an accompanying video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXp8XuJavC8&feature=youtu.be) [thanks to LFETA for the video link], Lara talks about how she always wanted to sing in Italian and is so grateful for this chance. She has said, that she dedicates this (65th edition) of San Remo to her mother, because “I know that you will be proud to see me on stage, recalling the moments when we sat together in front of the screen to watch San Remo” - a sentiment she repeats in yet another San Remo article (https://www.facebook.com/OperationFanClubLaraFabian/photos/a.674205676019965.1073741830.673991206041412/721593854614480/) (thanks to Operation Fan Club Lara Fabian for the link).
The words of ‘Voce’ are available at: www.sorrisi.com/musica/lara-fabian-sanremo-2015-il-testo-di-voce/
Here’s an approximate translation:
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Voce [Voice]
By C. Cremonini F. Zanotti L. Fabian
Voice for those who have no voice,
To make sense of this time ...
Voice that is noise of the city,
I shall enter into like the wind ...
I sing all the silence that
Is shouting around me, around me ...
Tell me who you are, voice in the air,
I want to confuse myself within you,
Singing for you from the bottom of the soul ...
With the strength to overcome ... that remains in me ...
To live again, to dream again
Until I reach you ...
This voice that never ceases
To make sense of this time ...
I sing, the profound power that
The serenity encompasses in itself, contains in itself...
Tell me who you are, a voice that goes in the wind
My clear song it is dedicated to you ... to you ...
Wherever you are ... your breathing intense ...
To win again, to discover again
The happiness closed inside us.
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The various news reports and videos for the festival invariably mention Lara (e.g., www.cn24tv.it/news/105221/sanremo-opere-di-affidato-ad-al-bano-e-lara-fabian.html). This particular one was to showcase the festival awards made by master jeweler Michele Affidato. With reference to Lara, the article below the video says (in translation), “The jury has finally wanted to give recognition to the only foreign artist in the race at the Festival of San Remo: the Belgian Lara Fabian, which will be a significant and unprecedented recognition, entitled "Europe at the Festival." For her Michele Affidato achieved a silver bas-relief that depicts a stylized flag of Europe." Along with two other artists, Lara will also get another award from the Italian Phonograph Association – and this is before the competition even begins! One gets the impression that the Italians go all out for this festival, which is considered their most important musical event.
Lara’s even getting a chance to use her Italian on the radio, e.g., www.youtube.com/watch?v=6r2GHnzI6m8 where she again discussed her Italian roots, and noted that the song she is to sing, ‘Voce’, gives a positive message that she can use on TV to emphasize the feelings of joy and happiness. What she wants the audience to obtain from seeing her is an emotional saturation, so they can experience it fully. An article in English on the writing of the song ‘Voce’ can be found at www.cristianocremonini.com/news/4064/zanotti-and-cremonini-at-sanremo-lets-give-a-voice-to-the-star-lara-fabian-2/.
And then these was a nice article about Lara (thanks to Larafabianweb for the link), at mentiinformatiche.com/2015/01/lara-fabian-alla-conquista-dellitalia.html. Here’s the approximate translation:
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Lara Fabian to the conquest of Italy
The Italian blood of Lara Fabian wants its share. The forty-five year old Belgian singer of a Sicilian mother arrives in San Remo with a stated mission: "Find a place in the country where I lived my early years." Distant memories, but very strong: the proof comes from her Italian, almost perfect. "In my career – she comments - I am devoted especially to French-speaking countries, then I went to the countries of Eastern Europe. Now I want to go to Italy. "Just a step in San Remo? "If the Festival will go well, there'll be a lot here and I'll make a new Italian record of songs with just a couple in French” she admits. She adds: "There will also be “Sto male”, French piece of Serge Lama launched here by Ornella Vanoni, I will be presenting at the Ariston Hotel in the evening of the ‘covers’. I'd also like to put my version of Caruso by Lucio Dalla. But it must be a disc that is not too traditional” (says Lara Fabian).
THE TRACK
The theme of Lara, the song of the festival which is called not surprisingly ‘La voce” (the Voice), but it sounds pretty traditional. A song made for her vocal cords that can extend up to three and a half octaves, "Fio Zanotti has written to me and I really like very much his melodic taste." The Sicilian blood plays its part and childhood, spent in Catania, is still present in her memory: "I lived there for six years. Our family was very matriarchal, where they spoke mostly of food and music. In the house all sang, mom and dad included, even if they have never done professionally. "Actually Lara's father was a musician, and has long been the guitarist of Petula Clark, however, it was the Italian music that contributed mainly to her aesthetic training: "My mother - remember - I was listening very much to Massimo Ranieri, that she really liked. But Ornella Vanoni and Mina. Then, bigger, I bought Battiato, Venditti, of course." Yet her music model comes from overseas: "No doubt, Barbra Streisand was my reference, together with Callas. Two divine voices." A confession unusual for a woman of 45 years, so much a part of a generation that grew up with rock: "The truth is that I am a paradox in everything. I like the melody, however, that is closely linked to British music. I love Freddy Mercury and Peter Gabriel, who is a musician of extraordinary modernity." Switch from Barbra Streisand to Maria Callas, through Massimo Ranieri is a beautiful journey that is coupled with the many countries in which Lara Fabian lived: "I'm a multi-person, from a small town, yet citizen of the world. A mixture where there are all the ingredients. In family relationships, they are decidedly Italian." With a surprising mastery of Italian. "Basically, I speak French, living in Belgium. But even my husband is Sicilian and at home we speak Italian." A husband, is called Gabriel Di Giorgio, married a couple of years ago and who works as a magician illusionist: "He is especially magical", is the engraved answer.
In San Remo, however, Lara faces her toughest Italian challenge, presented as the star of a foreign race: "I decided to participate because I want to try to enter the homes of Italians that so far know me as the singer of the Adagio. This would already be a victory." It is not, however, her debut at the San Remo festival: "I was there as a guest, and then there are the memories of the old San Remo, in particular the one won by Ranieri with ‘Perdere l’amore’. In 2007 I sang the Adagio and then I did a duet with Gigi D'Alessio of Un cuore malato: I was struck by a strong feeling of celebration. It is fun to go back to that playful atmosphere."
PROJECTS
Lara Fabian was born in Belgium. Her name was inspired by the novel by Pasternak, Doctor Zhivago, while the surname of art (the real one is Crokaert) was suggested by her uncle Pippo Fabiano. In her career she has sold 20 million records. In 2002, she performed a duet with Laura Pausini on the evening of fashion on the Spanish Steps, and a few years later there was a project with Eros Ramazzotti: "We had to sing together in America. But at the last meeting he jumped. Soon, however, we will do it", she assures.
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We have heard several times recently that Lara is hoping to parlay a successful appearance in San Remo into an Italian album, a long sought goal of hers. Hopefully this time it will really happen.
As the article notes, it is a challenging contest for Lara, as an outsider - in the pre-San Remo survey of favorite singers, she is currently ninth - again a nine (!) (), but she feels that just making her name more familiar to the Italian audience (other than as the singer of Adagio) is a victory in itself. And in all her interviews she indicates how excited and thankful she is to finally get the opportunity to perform in the country that means so much to her through her mother. As suggested above – when Lara combines strong emotions with a voice at full power, she can do wonders. The guess here is that she will excel at San Remo, regardless of whether she actually wins the contest.
In other news, for those worrying that there is no publicity for Lara’s shows in the US and Canada, there is at least one article (in English), with a Beverly Hills dateline, that can be seen at:
www.larafabianweb.com/images/scans/americanconcerts2015article.png
It says that the limited number of shows she’s providing has put her tickets at a premium, with the secondary ticket market very active – and that while seats are left for all the shows, their availability is limited. It’s not clear that that is really true (ticket sellers always say that) – but we’ll see by the time the shows occur.
All of this of course has left the Francophile audience far behind. Lara is cognizant of that, so following her concert appearance she wrote on her FB site (in French), “Just wanted to say that I do not forget you ... Even when I'm away, you are with me". One wonders if it is getting harder and harder for her to keep that sentiment alive, even for herself. Nevertheless, the long-awaited video of the 5th anniversary celebration for the Little Dreams Foundation in Belgium, with Lara’s participation, finally appeared. It can be seen at:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5ZmqvCTiZw
Lara looked quite attractive [although it would have been nice if the report showed her singing something other than just ‘Je t’aime’ (!)].
Interesting picture(s) of the week: from ‘Simplement Lara’, at:
www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10204655320255383&set=gm.781152545267560
or from Larafabianweb.com, at
www.facebook.com/246805652001644/photos/a.247913198557556.83420.246805652001644/1015887575093444/
where it is also noted that the ‘Best of’ from Odacity has now been postponed until May. Odacity also made the following announcement (https://www.facebook.com/odacity): “We have the pleasure to announce that Odacity has been officially appointed as the official (booking) agent of LARA FABIAN for various countries in Europe and Asia (Turkey, Greece, Cyprus, Israel, Middle East, Caucasus and Central Asia) . As such, our team is in the contact point (in many cases exclusively) for Lara Fabian's concerts in the concerned countries, but also a relay point for potential concerts in other countries in other regions”. In which case, if one has suggestions of how to improve Lara’s advertising of her concerts, you know whom you can contact… .
Next week Lara goes to San Remo – surely it will be memorable for her, and hopefully, for us (!), as her time in New York was.
David
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Review of Lara Fabian at the Barkleys Center
The show honoring Igor Krutoi’s 60th birthday (a date that actually occurred last August) was scheduled to start at 7 PM and last until 10:30, but it didn’t actually begin until 7:30. It still managed to end almost on time, although whether by design or necessity, there was no intermission. The reason for the late start may well have been the excessive security, which forced people to go through screening devices like at airports, both metal detecting machines and searches of bags. [At least people didn’t have to take off their shoes!]. An announcement indicated that no ‘professional audio or video recording devices’ were allowed, but no attempt was made to limit cell phones.
The Barclays Center was built for basketball, and so many of the seats face the center of the court, rather than the stage, hence it’s not ideal for concerts although there are good sight lines. The arena is quite big, with a seating capacity of up to 19,000. Lara herself indicated that there were 16,000 fans; while most seats were filled, some of the upper reaches seemed to have some available. Regardless of the actual number, a large crowd was present. Even with the size of the hall, with all those seats, legroom was not extensive – pretty much like economy class on an airline.
On the stage was an orchestra of about 40-50 people, with strings, horns, etc. In addition, there was a ‘rock-like’ ensemble featuring keyboard players, a drummer and guitarist. Behind them was a big screen used for creative visual accompaniment to the different musical pieces, similar to what was seen at the Krutoi gala in Moscow. [The visuals weren’t at the level of the Superbowl show, but they were quite entertaining and imaginative; yet if the ones shown behind Lara’s songs were indicative, they had little to do with the lyrics of the songs themselves]. Krutoi was situated behind the piano on stage left from the audience perspective, as usual. To the right and left above the stage were two big screens to provide enhanced views of the performers, with cameras strategically placed to depict the singers and musicians from varying angles. In addition, there were lights on or near the stage that often kept rotating and flashing onto the audience – they were meant to enliven the performance, but the bright lights were at eye level and so often somewhat annoying.
As expected the audience was almost exclusively Russian; I don’t know the exact percentage, but there were few people who were not speaking Russian, or heavily accented English. Appropriate, since all the performers except Lara sang almost exclusively in Russian, all the talking and announcements and signs were in Russian; the show could easily have been taking place in Russia. The audience was also almost all middle aged and older, apparently indicative of Krutoi’s fans, and those of the other performers (who also fit that age bracket). One would have to say Lara’s fans too are often of the same profile. As judged by the response to each of the entertainers’ introductions, most of the fans were not there for Lara (or at least not exclusively), and one would venture to say, at least some of them were not familiar with her.
The sound in the room was sensational – loud but not too loud (unlike Madison Square Garden, where ear plugs, or at least cotton, is sometimes ‘de rigor’). All the performers benefited from it, but from this perspective, Lara’s pure tones were the biggest beneficiary. While some fans of Lara prefer the intimate approach, one would have to say that hearing Lara’s beautiful voice amplified at high volume filling an expansive arena, with an orchestral background, is an unparalleled experience. Having been to a number of Lara’s concerts, in halls of various sizes, this was at least the equal of anything I’ve heard from her previously. One can get some indication of it from the videos, but the effect was even more transcendent in person.
The show started with Krutoi singing a song by himself, and he also sang about 4 more songs later on, after most of the other performers had been on stage (but before Lara). While he can carry a tune, vocalizing is not his true calling. The other performers following Krutoi included (not in order) Kristina Orbakaite, Irina Allegrova, Valeriy Leontiev, Alsou, Nikolai Baskov, Valeriya and Laima Vaikule - all of whom were enjoyable to listen to, but some of whom one might characterize more as entertainers than singers per se, IMHO. In that sense, this was a ‘show’, rather than purely a concert - hence the visuals on the screen behind them, and the enthusiastic choreography/dancers that occasionally served as accompaniment or even the main focus. The audience seemed to expect it and enjoy it as such; their identification with the acts on stage seemed primarily associated with the various personalities, and the fans’ history with them. This is not to say that there were no other good singers – some were very good, - but (again IMHO), it was not a prerequisite (and, one must say, the same could be said for ‘Les Enfoires’ shows, so this is not a commentary on Russians, but more on what makes an entertainer popular).
Not being familiar with Krutoi’s music outside of his association with Lara, I was surprised that most of the songs, presumably all written or co-written by him, were highly rhythmic. There were only a few ballads – all the others featured the orchestra being overridden by the keyboards, drums and rhythmic guitar. Perhaps the conceit was that one needed ‘up-tempo’ music to appeal to such a large audience, to ‘keep the blood flowing’ and get the audience involved. In that sense, the ‘Mademoiselle Zhivago’ album is not indicative of most of what was performed. Previously I would have described Krutoi’s compositions as being ‘romantic’, but this selection, which may not fully represent his repertoire, was definitely not that.
Into this mix at the two hour mark came Lara, the special guest, in a somewhat elaborate dark gown designed by Igor Gulyaev (e.g.,
http://instagr.am/p/yjYqBWEqy2) (with too much eyeliner makeup!). She was the next to last performer of the evening (Filipp Kirkorov, who was wonderful, went last), and with her pure voice ascending to the rafters, she changed entirely the ambiance of the event. Obviously I am a biased observer, but to me, it was the difference between ‘stars’ and a ‘superstar’. Her thirty minute set was a true concert, the music and voice dominating the hall. She sang five compositions from the Mademoiselle Zhivago album: ‘Demaine n’existe pas’; ‘Llora’; ‘Ascolta la voce’ (‘Vocalize’); ‘Mademoiselle Hyde’; and finishing with ‘Love Like a Dream’ (in Russian). Hence five different languages (if one includes the little bit of Italian in ‘Vocalize’) - certainly an anomaly for this show, and I felt the audience was not really expecting it, or wholeheartedly embracing that aspect of it. The version of ‘Llora’ can only be called hallucinatory! And ‘Vocalize’ is becoming a wonderful platform for her voice. On ‘Love Like a Dream’, Lara tried to get the audience to sing along with her, assuming that they knew the song (undoubtedly true), and would be happy to do so given that it was in Russian (absolutely untrue). Lara got frustrated when, holding up the microphone to the audience for their participation, she got no sound in response. That caused her to say, “No one is singing in New York? Come on!” She got no response to that either. She then gave up and finished the song, and her set, with the parting comment, “See you in Atlantic City in March”. And perhaps she will, because regardless of any initial unfamiliarity with Lara, the audience appeared to be overwhelmed by the quality of her singing, and how could one not be? This was Lara at her finest, perhaps buoyed by her association with Krutoi, the importance of the occasion, by the orchestra behind her, and by the size of the audience. When Lara is motivated emotionally and in full vocal power, she can reach unsurpassed heights of quality.
That was what the audience experienced at the Barclays Center. Many of these elements, however, will not be present for the concerts during her North American tour. We can reasonably expect her to be in good voice, so whatever she sings will be wonderfully appreciated, and those shows will have three times the number of titles offered here. Yet as this night amply illustrated, Lara is best served in a ‘maximalist’ setting with songs that illustrate her vocal capabilities. Her ‘unplugged’, best-of shows, including songs with subtle melodies have their own personal allure; however, seeing Lara that way (as Loreena McKennitt once said about her on-stage musicians), is like watching a Ferrari idling. For at least one night, the U.S. (albeit perhaps only the Russian subculture) got to see her in her true splendor.
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Lara herself happily recognized the magnitude of the event (and her contribution to it), with the following (translated) comment on her FB page:
-----------------------------------------------------
Hi to all!
I wake up this morning happy, after this wonderful birthday celebrated at the Barclays Center in New York!!! It is minus 16 [°C] and there is a magical light!!!
Igor was 60 years old, and we have sung in his honor!!! 16000 people full of joy!!! It was magic...
I come back to you in a few days with the start of San Remo!
In the meantime here are some pictures...
Lov lara
------------------------------------------------------
The pictures she referred to are at:
www.facebook.com/larafabianofficial/photos/pcb.848289721879193/848289581879207/?type=1&theater
There are also a set of photos compiled by Lara Fabian Mexico, at:
www.facebook.com/LaraFabianfromMexico/photos/a.794768593910536.1073741894.556364357750962/794768670577195/?type=1&theater
There are various videos on youtube. For those who are interested, I’ve collected and edited them (really only ‘Demaine n’existe pas’ required some work), to provide Lara’s full concert set in a ‘zip’ file that can be downloaded from:
app.box.com/s/u0adirj8lq8hi6ezmeoqgx8eekzj28rt
Similarly, mp3s of the songs, in their own zip file, can be found at:
app.box.com/s/ybmulroeft20htki4rcx2fuaujvuwld1
Thanks especially to Alexandra Aronova and Mercia Silva for their videos.
And the Barclays Center itself provided a video of a portion of the ending song with all the performers, at:
www.facebook.com/video.php?v=956313787744130&fref=nf
(it’s not clear that Lara knew the words…
). Those fans of Lara’s who attended or who saw the videos and commented on the various fan sites were unanimous in their assessment of this as an amazing performance (one can read some comments of this nature on the responses below the Barclays Center video). Even the Barclays Center was impressed (https://vine.co/v/Otjndjp7ArT). Nicolaus Boucaud, on the MZ FB site, who has been critical of Lara’s singing on her recent tour, wrote, “For one night, Lara Fabian again became Lara Fabian. It is the first time in a long time that she has sung like that.”
It may well rank as one of Lara’s highlights of the year…
Lara noted above that she will next be seen in San Remo. She is really living the international life – one week surrounded by Russians, two weeks later by Italians. And so we now turn our attention to the upcoming ‘Italian’ fairy tale. The TV Journal Sorrisi & Canzoni N° 5 d for the week of 1/31 through 2/6, presented the various candidates in the professional competition. The cover of the publication with all the candidates can be seen (thanks to LaraFabian web) at:
www.facebook.com/tvsorrisi/photos/a.599479823431175.1073741825.310065742372586/838498686195953/?type=1&theater
while the individual blurbs are at:
www.facebook.com/246805652001644/photos/a.247913198557556.83420.246805652001644/1017070781641790/?type=1&theater
Lara’s is ninth (a lucky number for her) from the right on top. It reads (approximately): “Remember that an almost theatrical style of musical led the popular Belgian to San Remo. Full of choirs and vocal virtuosity. ‘Voce’ is a tribute to the music that never ceases to make sense at this time.“ In an accompanying video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXp8XuJavC8&feature=youtu.be) [thanks to LFETA for the video link], Lara talks about how she always wanted to sing in Italian and is so grateful for this chance. She has said, that she dedicates this (65th edition) of San Remo to her mother, because “I know that you will be proud to see me on stage, recalling the moments when we sat together in front of the screen to watch San Remo” - a sentiment she repeats in yet another San Remo article (https://www.facebook.com/OperationFanClubLaraFabian/photos/a.674205676019965.1073741830.673991206041412/721593854614480/) (thanks to Operation Fan Club Lara Fabian for the link).
The words of ‘Voce’ are available at: www.sorrisi.com/musica/lara-fabian-sanremo-2015-il-testo-di-voce/
Here’s an approximate translation:
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Voce [Voice]
By C. Cremonini F. Zanotti L. Fabian
Voice for those who have no voice,
To make sense of this time ...
Voice that is noise of the city,
I shall enter into like the wind ...
I sing all the silence that
Is shouting around me, around me ...
Tell me who you are, voice in the air,
I want to confuse myself within you,
Singing for you from the bottom of the soul ...
With the strength to overcome ... that remains in me ...
To live again, to dream again
Until I reach you ...
This voice that never ceases
To make sense of this time ...
I sing, the profound power that
The serenity encompasses in itself, contains in itself...
Tell me who you are, a voice that goes in the wind
My clear song it is dedicated to you ... to you ...
Wherever you are ... your breathing intense ...
To win again, to discover again
The happiness closed inside us.
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The various news reports and videos for the festival invariably mention Lara (e.g., www.cn24tv.it/news/105221/sanremo-opere-di-affidato-ad-al-bano-e-lara-fabian.html). This particular one was to showcase the festival awards made by master jeweler Michele Affidato. With reference to Lara, the article below the video says (in translation), “The jury has finally wanted to give recognition to the only foreign artist in the race at the Festival of San Remo: the Belgian Lara Fabian, which will be a significant and unprecedented recognition, entitled "Europe at the Festival." For her Michele Affidato achieved a silver bas-relief that depicts a stylized flag of Europe." Along with two other artists, Lara will also get another award from the Italian Phonograph Association – and this is before the competition even begins! One gets the impression that the Italians go all out for this festival, which is considered their most important musical event.
Lara’s even getting a chance to use her Italian on the radio, e.g., www.youtube.com/watch?v=6r2GHnzI6m8 where she again discussed her Italian roots, and noted that the song she is to sing, ‘Voce’, gives a positive message that she can use on TV to emphasize the feelings of joy and happiness. What she wants the audience to obtain from seeing her is an emotional saturation, so they can experience it fully. An article in English on the writing of the song ‘Voce’ can be found at www.cristianocremonini.com/news/4064/zanotti-and-cremonini-at-sanremo-lets-give-a-voice-to-the-star-lara-fabian-2/.
And then these was a nice article about Lara (thanks to Larafabianweb for the link), at mentiinformatiche.com/2015/01/lara-fabian-alla-conquista-dellitalia.html. Here’s the approximate translation:
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Lara Fabian to the conquest of Italy
The Italian blood of Lara Fabian wants its share. The forty-five year old Belgian singer of a Sicilian mother arrives in San Remo with a stated mission: "Find a place in the country where I lived my early years." Distant memories, but very strong: the proof comes from her Italian, almost perfect. "In my career – she comments - I am devoted especially to French-speaking countries, then I went to the countries of Eastern Europe. Now I want to go to Italy. "Just a step in San Remo? "If the Festival will go well, there'll be a lot here and I'll make a new Italian record of songs with just a couple in French” she admits. She adds: "There will also be “Sto male”, French piece of Serge Lama launched here by Ornella Vanoni, I will be presenting at the Ariston Hotel in the evening of the ‘covers’. I'd also like to put my version of Caruso by Lucio Dalla. But it must be a disc that is not too traditional” (says Lara Fabian).
THE TRACK
The theme of Lara, the song of the festival which is called not surprisingly ‘La voce” (the Voice), but it sounds pretty traditional. A song made for her vocal cords that can extend up to three and a half octaves, "Fio Zanotti has written to me and I really like very much his melodic taste." The Sicilian blood plays its part and childhood, spent in Catania, is still present in her memory: "I lived there for six years. Our family was very matriarchal, where they spoke mostly of food and music. In the house all sang, mom and dad included, even if they have never done professionally. "Actually Lara's father was a musician, and has long been the guitarist of Petula Clark, however, it was the Italian music that contributed mainly to her aesthetic training: "My mother - remember - I was listening very much to Massimo Ranieri, that she really liked. But Ornella Vanoni and Mina. Then, bigger, I bought Battiato, Venditti, of course." Yet her music model comes from overseas: "No doubt, Barbra Streisand was my reference, together with Callas. Two divine voices." A confession unusual for a woman of 45 years, so much a part of a generation that grew up with rock: "The truth is that I am a paradox in everything. I like the melody, however, that is closely linked to British music. I love Freddy Mercury and Peter Gabriel, who is a musician of extraordinary modernity." Switch from Barbra Streisand to Maria Callas, through Massimo Ranieri is a beautiful journey that is coupled with the many countries in which Lara Fabian lived: "I'm a multi-person, from a small town, yet citizen of the world. A mixture where there are all the ingredients. In family relationships, they are decidedly Italian." With a surprising mastery of Italian. "Basically, I speak French, living in Belgium. But even my husband is Sicilian and at home we speak Italian." A husband, is called Gabriel Di Giorgio, married a couple of years ago and who works as a magician illusionist: "He is especially magical", is the engraved answer.
In San Remo, however, Lara faces her toughest Italian challenge, presented as the star of a foreign race: "I decided to participate because I want to try to enter the homes of Italians that so far know me as the singer of the Adagio. This would already be a victory." It is not, however, her debut at the San Remo festival: "I was there as a guest, and then there are the memories of the old San Remo, in particular the one won by Ranieri with ‘Perdere l’amore’. In 2007 I sang the Adagio and then I did a duet with Gigi D'Alessio of Un cuore malato: I was struck by a strong feeling of celebration. It is fun to go back to that playful atmosphere."
PROJECTS
Lara Fabian was born in Belgium. Her name was inspired by the novel by Pasternak, Doctor Zhivago, while the surname of art (the real one is Crokaert) was suggested by her uncle Pippo Fabiano. In her career she has sold 20 million records. In 2002, she performed a duet with Laura Pausini on the evening of fashion on the Spanish Steps, and a few years later there was a project with Eros Ramazzotti: "We had to sing together in America. But at the last meeting he jumped. Soon, however, we will do it", she assures.
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We have heard several times recently that Lara is hoping to parlay a successful appearance in San Remo into an Italian album, a long sought goal of hers. Hopefully this time it will really happen.
As the article notes, it is a challenging contest for Lara, as an outsider - in the pre-San Remo survey of favorite singers, she is currently ninth - again a nine (!) (), but she feels that just making her name more familiar to the Italian audience (other than as the singer of Adagio) is a victory in itself. And in all her interviews she indicates how excited and thankful she is to finally get the opportunity to perform in the country that means so much to her through her mother. As suggested above – when Lara combines strong emotions with a voice at full power, she can do wonders. The guess here is that she will excel at San Remo, regardless of whether she actually wins the contest.
In other news, for those worrying that there is no publicity for Lara’s shows in the US and Canada, there is at least one article (in English), with a Beverly Hills dateline, that can be seen at:
www.larafabianweb.com/images/scans/americanconcerts2015article.png
It says that the limited number of shows she’s providing has put her tickets at a premium, with the secondary ticket market very active – and that while seats are left for all the shows, their availability is limited. It’s not clear that that is really true (ticket sellers always say that) – but we’ll see by the time the shows occur.
All of this of course has left the Francophile audience far behind. Lara is cognizant of that, so following her concert appearance she wrote on her FB site (in French), “Just wanted to say that I do not forget you ... Even when I'm away, you are with me". One wonders if it is getting harder and harder for her to keep that sentiment alive, even for herself. Nevertheless, the long-awaited video of the 5th anniversary celebration for the Little Dreams Foundation in Belgium, with Lara’s participation, finally appeared. It can be seen at:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5ZmqvCTiZw
Lara looked quite attractive [although it would have been nice if the report showed her singing something other than just ‘Je t’aime’ (!)].
Interesting picture(s) of the week: from ‘Simplement Lara’, at:
www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10204655320255383&set=gm.781152545267560
or from Larafabianweb.com, at
www.facebook.com/246805652001644/photos/a.247913198557556.83420.246805652001644/1015887575093444/
where it is also noted that the ‘Best of’ from Odacity has now been postponed until May. Odacity also made the following announcement (https://www.facebook.com/odacity): “We have the pleasure to announce that Odacity has been officially appointed as the official (booking) agent of LARA FABIAN for various countries in Europe and Asia (Turkey, Greece, Cyprus, Israel, Middle East, Caucasus and Central Asia) . As such, our team is in the contact point (in many cases exclusively) for Lara Fabian's concerts in the concerned countries, but also a relay point for potential concerts in other countries in other regions”. In which case, if one has suggestions of how to improve Lara’s advertising of her concerts, you know whom you can contact…
. Next week Lara goes to San Remo – surely it will be memorable for her, and hopefully, for us (!), as her time in New York was.
David
